#BOXOFFICE: “MONSTERS UNIVERSITY” DEBUTS ON-TOP WITH “WORLD WAR Z” IN SECOND ON MONSTROUS MOVIE WEEKEND

It was a monstrous weekend at the Box Office with spectacular numbers from the Top Three-finishing Films.  Alas it was Families who ruled Ticket Sales with Monsters Inc. Prequel, Monsters University, opening on-top with a stellar $82 million from 4,004 theatres across North America for Disney.  With John Goodman and Billy Crystal reprising their roles as Mike Wazowski and Sulley, Audiences could not resist getting another chance to see the animated Duo on-screen, giving the Film an A CinemaScore, while Critics agreed it was a solid effort with a decent 77% on the Tomatometer at Rotten Tomatoes.  By comparison, its Predecessor in 2001 opened with $62 million domestically.

Not to be outdone, Paramount Pictures’ World War Z opened in second with $66 million.  Starring Brad Pitt, this continent-hopping Action/Horror/Adventure thrilled Audiences who gave it a B+ CinemaScore, and Critics were on-par with 67% rating on the Tomatometer.  Moviegoers cannot get enough of Zombies, this becoming the highest opening ever for a Zombie Flick, surpassing last year’s Hotel Transylvania which debuted with $42 million.

Man of Steel had a superb opening last week and doesn’t disappoint despite its slip to third spot for Warner Bros. The latest in the Superman Franchise earns $41.2 million domestically this weekend.  Internationally it already has surpassed the $350-million mark.

Sony Pictures Comedy This is the End amidst all the Blockbusters, certainly holds its own in fourth spot with $12.6 million in its second week of release, just ahead of the resilient Now You See Me in fifth with $7/8 million in its third week out for Summit Entertainment/Lionsgate Films/eOne Films.  Meanwhile, former Champion The Purge slips to sixth for Universal Pictures with $3.3 million.

Rounding it out  is Veteran Iron Man 3 which in its eighth week earns $8.1 million placing Disney at the top and bottom of the Top Ten. In limited release, Sofia Coppola‘s The Bling Ring sits in eleventh with $2 million from only 650 theatres.  Overall, Critics gave the Docu-Drama about a group of Teens who robbed the homes of Celebrities, mixed to bordering-positive Reviews with 58% on the Tomatometer.